If the mystery and awe and joy of the Christmas story does not move you the way it used to, maybe it’s time to release your inner child.

When my grandchildren came on the scene, they helped to restore my playful spirit. They are so easily amused and entertained and I love to experience their new discoveries with them. Asher, who is 2, is now saying “ooooooo!!!” when we drive by the colorful lights.

When we were toddlers, our world was full of wonder. Laughter was common and trust came easy. We had no past to regret and we hadn’t yet learned to worry. Then something happened. We grew up. We experienced pain, embarrassment and heartache, which produced fear, cynicism and distrust. But Jesus said,

“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little
children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3)

We need a childlike faith to trust God, to enjoy being his children and to live without fear and anxiety, even in this crazy, cruel world. The peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension (Philippians 4:7) produces a joy that beats circumstantial happiness any day.

So go ahead, have fun this Christmas. It’s supposed to be merry, after all!

The angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring yougood news of great joy that will be for all the people. (Luke 2:19)

]]>https://robsreflections.wordpress.com/2015/12/24/have-a-playful-christmas/feed/0Robkids &amp; animals manger sceneIt’s time to turn over a new leaf!https://robsreflections.wordpress.com/2015/01/01/its-time-to-turn-over-a-new-leaf/
https://robsreflections.wordpress.com/2015/01/01/its-time-to-turn-over-a-new-leaf/#respondThu, 01 Jan 2015 16:16:16 +0000http://robsreflections.wordpress.com/?p=8573]]>During the coldest time of year, when the trees are bare and the nights are long and signs of life are hard to find, a shimmer of hope breaks through with the emergence of a brand new year. I used to wonder why people celebrate so much on January 1st…

]]>https://robsreflections.wordpress.com/2015/01/01/its-time-to-turn-over-a-new-leaf/feed/0Roba new leafNew blog to help you get closer to God!https://robsreflections.wordpress.com/2014/08/18/new-blog-to-help-you-get-closer-to-god/
https://robsreflections.wordpress.com/2014/08/18/new-blog-to-help-you-get-closer-to-god/#respondMon, 18 Aug 2014 01:49:48 +0000http://robsreflections.wordpress.com/?p=8566]]>Hello, everyone!

I haven’t added any posts for awhile because I’ve been busy working on a new study called Dwell in His secret place. It’s similar to the Get Close to God series on this blog but will be a year long quest discovering and practicing 12 keys for an intimate relationship with Christ. There will also be weekly posts to help keep us on track.

If you are a Facebook user you will soon receive an invitation to join us. If not, you can catch the posts on my new blog:

I’m really excited about this project because it is a collection of truths and tips from the Bible, authors, friends, and things you have shared on Rob’s Reflections since August, 2008.

I really appreciate the way you have followed this blog over the years and I hope you will come along on this new journey with me and contribute often with your comments. We can learn so much from each other!

See you there,
Rob

]]>https://robsreflections.wordpress.com/2014/08/18/new-blog-to-help-you-get-closer-to-god/feed/0RobThe Secret Place before the Public Place!https://robsreflections.wordpress.com/2014/03/19/the-secret-place-before-the-public-place/
https://robsreflections.wordpress.com/2014/03/19/the-secret-place-before-the-public-place/#commentsWed, 19 Mar 2014 03:13:43 +0000http://robsreflections.wordpress.com/?p=8507]]>Forty-sixth in the series Get Close to God

Back when I worked on multifunctional office machines, I learned the value of preventive maintenance. Those workhorses could copy, print, scan, and fax all day long, week after week. But if they were not allowed to go off-line long enough for a good cleaning, calibration, and replacement of worn out parts, pretty soon their performance would suffer and they eventually broke down before their time.

We are also multifunctional in our roles as husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, and employees, aren’t we? We are constantly pushed and pulled in many directions and after a while we begin to wear down. Some of us are driven by the almighty dollar and some of us try to please everyone but up end not pleasing anyone well. Doing our best is admirable, but if we don’t take scheduled maintenance breaks to let our heavenly Technician clean, adjust our focus and energize us, we will break down before our time.

Serving God and trying to live right is very important, but how many of us prepare properly before we go out? How many of us just wing it without first putting on the armor of God? But how can we take up the shield of faith or swing the sword of the Word if we’re not prayed up or filled up with scripture? Reading your Bible and praying may seem like a counterproductive use of your time at first. But if you stick with it, you’ll soon acquire a taste for your “daily bread” and your soul will begin to crave for spiritual food.

He that dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. (Psalm 91:1)

I think one of the reasons it’s called the secret place is because so many of us never find it. Our restlessness keeps us so busy we don’t slow down enough to become restful. We need to go off-line and get alone with God, rest for awhile and quit trying to figure everything out on our own. We don’t have to pray long, elaborate prayers. Sometimes I don’t know how to pray or even have the energy. That’s when I just sit down with my hands open and relax in his presence. I usually don’t hear or sense anything from the Lord, but that’s OK. He knows I’m surrendering some time to be with him and I usually come away refreshed and confident to tackle whatever the day will bring because I know he’ll be with me.

We’ve got to dwell in the secret place before we enter the public place.

My quest to know Christ on a personal level is accomplishing at least two things for me. First, it lifts me out of dependence on apologetics to try and convince me of the reality of God. The closer I get to him, the more affirmations I receive of his existence, which removes my doubts. Second, I have found no greater satisfaction in life than seeing God do something through me that I could not do on my own. My pride wants to pull myself up by my bootstraps, but the only way to real and lasting change is walking with the Spirit. It is not simply letting go and letting God. It is shifting my focus and energy from trying to do it all by myself, to seeking God with all my heart before and while I work. I have found this to be more of a challenge, actually, than just staying busy “doing things for Him.” Yes, I have to fight my urge to go it alone, but his joy is stronger than pride, trust is stronger than fear, and peace is the glorious result. This is heaven on earth, a preview of the eternal bliss that awaits us. Don’t leave home without Him!

If you were going to promote the Christian lifestyle, would you tell your prospects what Jesus did in Matthew 16:24?

“If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

We don’t like someone telling us how to live our lives, much less denying us the freedom to pursue our desires. We are not willing to sacrifice our comfort or safety unless it is for a pleasure source that is worth the inconvenience or the risk. Some find it in a cause, or for love, and some recklessly abandon all restraint for another fix for their addiction.

Is Christ asking us to give up every pleasure or go live as a monk? A.B. Simpson said,“The meaning of self-denial is not an infliction of personal torment nor penance, but it is simply the giving up of the very principle of living for ourselves. It is completely changing the direction of our being and will, so that no longer in any sense do we act with reference to how anything will affect us, but our one thought is how it will affect God or others.”

It is the difference between waking up in the morning and evaluating how the things on my calendar for today will make me feel, versus asking the Lord to show me how I can be used by him in the midst of those activities.

Buried beneath the layers of religiosity and grandiosity lies a precious little secret that can fill and energize our hungry souls like nothing else. We try so hard to be good and please people and please God, but what does he want the most from us? Are you ready? Here it is. He wants…us. He wants us more than our programs and committees and initiatives. Those things are important, but they must involve working closely with him. He wants us to work with him, not just for him. We need to work closer, not harder. Not only does he become more real to us in the process, but we accomplish so much more, at least at what matters the most.

Is pursuing Christ worth risking everything for? Let’s hear from someone who thought so:“I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him.” Paul, Philippians 3:8

The more we become captivated and consumed with the love of God, the more we will recklessly abandon all restraint on our time, talents, and treasure, and willingly release them for his purposes and glory. Only then will we understand the motivation behind Paul’s devotion and the testimonies of the “I Am Second” movement. They have discovered that being a willing slave for Christ is better than being free to follow their own desires which never stay quenched.

How do you know if you are denying yourself or not? Listen to how many times you hear me, myself, and I in your thoughts: I don’t want to do that. I’m not comfortable doing that. That bothers me. That’s awkward for me. What will they think of me? I don’t have time for that. I don’t want to give that much of my money. I know those thoughts because I think them. But I don’t want to. What I do is not the good I want to do. Sound familiar? Yes, Paul, again, in Romans 7:19. But he goes on to say, “Thanks be to God-through Jesus our Lord!”

I don’t want my life to end before I come to the end of myself. I don’t want my pride to fill my final years with regret. Admitting we need God doesn’t make us weak. It makes us stronger as he empowers us to be all he made us to be. And just what is that, you might ask? Well, if you’re still trying to find yourself, then read the next verse:

“For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?”

]]>https://robsreflections.wordpress.com/2014/01/18/what-are-you-willing-to-risk-everything-for/feed/0Robcarrying-the-cross-daily2Before you make that New Year’s Resolution…https://robsreflections.wordpress.com/2013/12/31/before-you-make-that-new-years-resolution/
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Forty-forth in the series Get close to God

Well, it’s that time of year again. When we try to muster up enough self-control and self-confidence to accomplish some self-improvement to boost our self-esteem as a result of our self-reliance. I don’t suppose I need to ask you if you see a pattern here.

I’m not against trying to become better at something or aspiring to get into shape or wanting to kick a bad habit. I just think it’s time we got off the hamster wheel long enough to share our desires and dreams with the one who can help us get past January 31st before running out of steam.

When Israel’s biggest enemy, the Philistines, heard that David had been anointed king, they came out in full force and spread out in the valley. David had already accomplished much success in his military campaigns, including sneaking into the water shaft to take Jerusalem from the Jebusites. If anyone had a right to feel self-confident, it was him. But he still checked in with the Lord before the battle. “Shall I go and attack them? Will you hand them over to me?” The Lord said, “Go, for I will surely hand the Philistines over to you.” The enemy was defeated but undaunted so they came back for more. David might have been tempted to try what always worked before, but he paused to consult again with his heavenly General. It’s a good thing he did, because he received a different tactic that time, instructing him to circle around the enemy and attack them from behind, resulting in such a devastating blow that it launched Israel as the super power in the region.

Can we learn from David as we consider our goals for the New Year? “Should I do this, Lord? Will you help me succeed?” Don’t wait until you have improved yourself enough before you approach God. He wants you as you are right now, warts and all. Come to him with a repentant heart, ask him to help you, and then give it all you’ve got!

Is there something that you have been wanting to see happen in your life? Is there a desire or dream about some kind of ministry that’s been haunting you for a long time but has remained dormant, a casualty of a lack of confidence or procrastination? Do you feel distant from God and long for the kind of closeness that brings peace and joy that is now alien to you?

Six years ago I was pretty bored and kind of depressed with how my life was going. That’s when I realized I needed to learn how to connect closely with my Creator and with brothers and sisters in Christ. Since then he has given me new opportunities for ministries that have infused excitement, enthusiasm, and purpose into my soul. I still have the same job but somehow it has become more meaningful now when I take the Lord to work with me.

Maybe life is pretty comfortable for you right now and you see 2014 approaching as just another year of doing what you’ve always done before. If you’re that confident in your abilities and don’t feel you need God very often, perhaps it’s time to take a risk and tackle something that you need God’s help for in order to succeed. Or maybe just try involving the Lord in what you’re already doing. You’ll be amazed at how much more you’ll be able to accomplish with him and how your career can also be your mission field. Either way, I guarantee it will bring you closer to him!

No matter what I would like to see happen in my life, I need to remind myself that I won’t make it to February without keeping in step with the Spirit. Getting and staying close to God needs to take priority over all my other goals. That foundation has to be solid or the building will come tumbling down.

Do any of you have an aspiration of the spiritual kind? Please share it by replying to this post so we can come alongside you and earnestly seek the Lord concerning it. Your dream may become a reality by next January, or sooner! After all, “with God all things are possible” (Mathew 19:26.)

]]>https://robsreflections.wordpress.com/2013/12/31/before-you-make-that-new-years-resolution/feed/0Robhamster wheelAm I a blesser or a complainer?https://robsreflections.wordpress.com/2013/11/23/am-i-a-blesser-or-a-complainer/
https://robsreflections.wordpress.com/2013/11/23/am-i-a-blesser-or-a-complainer/#respondSat, 23 Nov 2013 20:03:52 +0000http://robsreflections.wordpress.com/?p=8447]]>It truly is amazing how our souls are lifted when we count our blessings. Dissatisfaction comes from dwelling on what we don’t have. Contentment comes from recognizing what we do have. I think if we can be objective, we would say there is a lot more that is right in our lives than there is wrong. I’ve heard it said that thankful people are happier because they cherish the good things in their lives.

Yes, I do have frustrating challenges with things and people and my job but I also have people who love me and my job provides a warm house and a full belly. Best of all, I have an awesome, personal God that’s always here for me and Christian brothers and sisters who always have my back in their prayers. Would you like an example? I probably would not have passed a very difficult security certification in Atlanta yesterday without those prayers.

Can people tell if we’re thankful? Try this exercise. Every night for a week, review everything you said that day. What did your family, friends and co-workers hear come out of your mouth? Positive, cheerful and grateful words or negative, complaining, and critical ones? Instead of grumbling about not having enough money, we should appreciate the things we spent it on.

Sharon and I like to remind ourselves when one of our appliances or cars don’t work perfectly by saying “First World problem!”

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17

Comfortable, Content, Satisfied. Sound good? While we should appreciate the blessings God has given us, these adjectives can actually lead to a stagnant and lukewarm Christian life. The American dream tends to temper our dependence on God, puff up our pride and in many cases, relegate our religion to a weekly ritual and meal time graces to keep us in good standing. We tend to forget how wretched we are and how much we need Christ to live a holy life.

Maybe we don’t know what we’re missing. Maybe we don’t understand how Paul could say that everything he had accomplished in his life was rubbish compared to knowing Christ. (Philippians 3:8) God gives us material things to enjoy, but if we’re not careful they can become idols, cheap imitations for the true riches he intends for us. Materialism can lull us into a false sense of security and make us complacent, eroding our trust and dependence on him.

“O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You…my soul clings to You…my soul longs for You.” (Psalm 63:1, 8, 143:6) Do David’s words describe your appetite for God? If not, how can we increase our desire for him, or for anything, for that matter? Think back on the first time you tried a new food and discovered you liked it or discovered a common interest with an acquaintance which resulted in a close friendship over time. “Taste and see that the Lord is good!” (Psalm 34:8) Seek and pursue Christ like you would for buried treasure and you’ll be rewarded. When you find him and get to know him, you’ll desire him above all else.

I am so content that I’m not content

The closer I get to God, the more I want him. According to Andrew Murray, “It is only into the thirst of an empty soul that streams of living water flow. Ever thirsting is the secret of never thirsting.” I have become so content with Christ that I’m not content when I have allowed the distractions of life to pull me away from him. Even my emotions and moods are affected. My quiet times are more than a filling station. They’re an opportunity to enjoy sweet fellowship with my Savior and immerse myself into his word, not just to read my daily quota.

Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.” (John 6:53) If you want to really live, you need Christ in you. Everything else is counterfeit.

When we are filled with the Holy Spirit we don’t have to fake a smile. The joy and peace comes through and we don’t need a self improvement book to make us feel good about ourselves. We just need to count our blessings and share this priceless gift with others who are trying to fill their empty souls.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. (Mathew 5:6)

Going to church is something I’ve done all my life. I’ve benefited greatly from the instruction, inspiration, and encouragement I have received, but lately I’ve been wondering if I’ve been more of a taker than a giver. Am I only seeking to be fed or am I willing to be more than a spectator? I’m not talking about the offering here; most of us know we shouldn’t come to church with a closed fist; “No one is to appear before Me empty-handed.” (Exodus 23:15)

But what is worship on Sunday morning? Is it something I can stroll into after it’s started as long as I get into my seat before the sermon begins or is it something more than a preliminary, something that I should be on time for to prepare my heart to hear from God? Or maybe come a little early so I can encourage or pray for someone? Am I hoping to meet God together with my fellow believers, to bring glory to Him, not only for his goodness to me but in the midst of severe trials? Am I awed to be in the presence of the Lord or am I lukewarm as I enter his house?

Am I just mouthing the words like a robot when I sing “All that is within me bless his holy name” or am I giving it my best shot? Am I expressing my love and thanks to the Lord my God with all my heart and soul and mind and strength or just going through the motions? Am I expecting the worship leaders to bless me or do I have some responsibility to shoulder, like blessing the Lord?

Those are a lot of questions, but ones I need to ask myself when I get up on Sunday morning. If I don’t start my worship as soon as I get out of bed and pray for the upcoming service I will probably be distracted when I get there and be critical of the musicians or the song selections or become detached from my mission, which is to focus on the glorious meeting with my Savior and enjoy the privilege of making music (or least a joyful noise) to the Lord with my Christian brothers and sisters. I need to “worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.” (Hebrews 12:28)

When people come to church ready to engage in praise and worship, it’s contagious and a wonderful experience to behold. I know there are as many styles of worship as there are personalities, but I want the Lord to know that I’m happy to be in his house. Can he see our love for him on our faces as he looks out on our congregation? I hope so.

I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” (Psalm 122:1)

]]>https://robsreflections.wordpress.com/2013/07/09/why-do-i-go-to-church/feed/1Robsteeple2Keep Looking Up!https://robsreflections.wordpress.com/2013/04/28/keep-looking-up/
https://robsreflections.wordpress.com/2013/04/28/keep-looking-up/#commentsSun, 28 Apr 2013 22:28:32 +0000http://robsreflections.wordpress.com/?p=8328]]>Forty-first in the series Get close to God

My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.Psalm 63:8

I like to watch my cats, Raya and Sunny, climb trees. Sometimes they run up trying to get away from something but I also think they do it just because they can, because it’s fun.

It’s amazing how their limber bodies and claws enable them to scale and cling to the limbs so high off the ground. It makes me nervous when they venture out on skinny branches which give and sway under their weight. They almost lose their balance as they precariously turn around and walk the tight rope back to the safety of the trunk.

This makes me think of how much farther I can get in my life when I cling to my Creator instead of venturing out on my own. When I’m afraid, I can climb up into the safety of my Heavenly Father’s lap and find refuge under His wings, high above the problems I left below. But it’s also fun to see where He takes me when I give Him my hand and He pulls me up to see and experience things I would never have known had I stayed down in my own little world. It’s amazing how our perspective is lifted when we keep looking up!

]]>https://robsreflections.wordpress.com/2013/04/28/keep-looking-up/feed/2RobDSC00583Can you read just one page from your Bible everyday?https://robsreflections.wordpress.com/2013/01/08/can-you-read-just-one-page-from-your-bible-everyday-2/
https://robsreflections.wordpress.com/2013/01/08/can-you-read-just-one-page-from-your-bible-everyday-2/#respondTue, 08 Jan 2013 02:20:13 +0000http://robsreflections.wordpress.com/?p=8305]]>Fortieth in the series Get close to God

Reading through the entire Bible in one year is a worthy goal, but three Chapters a day in one sitting is quite a commitment and encourages one to rush through the verses instead of taking the time to study and prayerfully meditate on them.

However, you can read the entire New Testament and the book of Psalms in one year if you read just one chapter a day, which is only about one page in your Bible. If you do this in the morning, you can read two chapters from the Old Testament at bedtime and be finished with it by the end of the year as well. Or read one chapter a night and be done in two years. There’s no hurry.

There are many Bible reading schedules out there but I personally don’t like reading all of the gospels together. I would like to hear from Jesus all throughout the year, so I mix them in with the rest of the New Testament. I do this with the Psalms as well.

While most chapters average about 32 verses, they can vary between 2 to 176, so the best way to pace yourself is to go by pages. Most Bibles average about a page per chapter, but some big letter and study editions can take up two or more. To determine this for your Bible, divide the total pages of your New Testament by 260 (the number of chapters in the New Testament) to get the number of pages to read per day. Since the chapters in the Psalms average only 16 verses per chapter, you can read two of those per day.

This schedule leaves 30 days left over so you can miss a reading every other week and still stay on track. You can start anytime; it doesn’t have to be January First. How about today?

]]>https://robsreflections.wordpress.com/2013/01/08/can-you-read-just-one-page-from-your-bible-everyday-2/feed/0Robpage in BibleHow to get closer to God in 2013: Be S.M.A.R.T.https://robsreflections.wordpress.com/2012/12/29/how-to-get-closer-to-god-in-2013-be-s-m-a-r-t/
https://robsreflections.wordpress.com/2012/12/29/how-to-get-closer-to-god-in-2013-be-s-m-a-r-t/#respondSat, 29 Dec 2012 18:11:31 +0000http://robsreflections.wordpress.com/?p=8270]]>Thirty-ninth in the series Get close to God

Sam Paris recently introduced the S.M.A.R.T. criteria to me as a way to possibly evaluate where we’re at with the Lord. Is it Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely? So, let’s see if it works.

Picture what you would like your relationship with Christ to look like. Do you have any role models that inspire you? Have you heard of Brother Lawrence? He served in a monastery in Paris in the seventeenth century working in the kitchen and repairing sandals. This is how his relationship with the Lord was described:

“For about 30 years his soul has been filled with joy and delight so continual, and sometimes so great, that he is forced to find ways to hide their appearing outwardly to others who may not understand.”

I don’t know about you, but I would like to know God like that. We’ve discussed the benefits of a close walk with Christ on this blog, and while I advocate pursuing him out of love and not just for the perks, the degree to which we enjoy the perks is an indication of how close we are. Does God fill your hungry soul better than anything else?

One thing that’s really cool is we don’t have to hope and pray that someday we’ll experience what it’s like to be close to God. Jesus said, “I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me.” (Revelation 3:20) And James said in chapter 4, verse 8, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” The ball is in our court. We can start right now. It’s not an easy process. It will involve some lifestyle changes, but it’ll be worth it.

We can begin by expressing our desire to God and ask him to help and guide us on our quest. Then, we can set some action goals. We need to be specific. Concerning time alone with God: when, where and for how long? How often do we want to talk with him? Just when we need something, or do we want to stay in touch throughout the day? How much reading and reciting his Word would be appropriate? How dependent on God do we want to be? Do we want him involved with everything or just keep him handy for a backup up plan? We should then consider if these goals are attainable.As Monty Waldron says, “God will always give you what you need, to do what he wants you to do.” So, let’s not settle for business as usual. Aspire for more!

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23, 24)

We can also ask a friend, and finally ourselves: “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves.” (2 Corinthians 13:5) To what extent are the fruits of the Spirit being manifested in my life? How much love, joy, peace and patience oozes out of me? Do I have a thankful or critical spirit? Am I greedy or generous? How often do I enjoy the presence of God and just burst out with a worship song? Do I ever cry tears of joy? I know we can’t always go by our feelings, but how can we delight in our heavenly Father without emotions? I don’t think he intended for us to rejoice in him from a cold heart. Have fun with God! Let loose, dance, shout, it’s OK, really.

I don’t want to appear legalistic, but if we find it useful to evaluate our secular job performance, then perhaps we can use our spiritual fruit for some key performance indicators to help us measure our progress.

Don’t just think about your evaluation, write it down. Be realistic, but stretch yourself. Then give it some time. Fruit takes a while to grow. Joy and peace are not something you can whip up. They are the results of a life committed to Christ, moment by moment. Just pick one or two action goals you feel will get you closer to him and then give it all you’ve got. Find some Christian friends to join you and hold you accountable and pray with them. You just might be amazed to see what Jesus does with your willing spirit in 2013.

We’ll, I’m back after almost a year of not posting anything, so I thought I should update you on what I’ve been up to. It’s been quite a year, to say the least. I took a break from blog writing to start song writing again, became a grandpa on April 5, and then lost my voice while singing in church on May 13th. Since many of you know the story, I’ll sum it up by saying the Lord delivered me from probable thyroid cancer, and my vocal cord nerve started coming back to life within 6 weeks, not 6 months to a year, which was the prognosis.

I also started leading a men’s group on drawing near to God, called DWELL, which meets once a month. This has been very rewarding and challenging, as we are learning from each other and being encouraged by the discussions.

Stay tuned for more articles for the “Get Close to God series; but for now, I hope you enjoy this 3 minute video of our Christmas reunion:

t

I’m slowly loading videos that used to be on this blog to YouTube since they play better there.
Here’s one that’s ready:

I hope these photos with scripture narration inspire and encourage you.

In my younger years I went canoeing quite often, usually on the Fox River in Northern Illinois where I grew up. These pictures are from one of those trips from the early seventies, the one on the right highlighting my sister, Karen, and my dad. The Fox usually had just enough current flowing to make it an easy ride downstream. If you wanted to go upstream you had to work at it, but progress could be made if you stuck with it.

Our faith is like that. It is not static, it’s dynamic, and is directly proportional to our thoughts, actions, and environment. If we neglect our faith, our environment will take over and we’ll float downstream, blending in with the world. If we want to make a difference, however, we need to paddle!

Our faith must be nurtured, just like any living thing, and will thrive or die depending on the care it receives. Our relationship with Christ is only as close as our efforts to stay connected with him.

We should always be asking ourselves, “Is what I’m doing right now glorifying God or dishonoring him?” The answer sometimes may be “Neither.” Maybe I’m just ignoring him which is also a bad choice. I may not be doing it intentionally, but it’s very easy to get so wrapped up in my thoughts and pursuits that I completely crowd out God. Many of my thoughts and pursuits are perfectly fine to think and do; I just need to learn how to take the Lord along for the ride and to include him in everything I do. He’s already with me, so it’s about time I acknowledge that!

We spend a lot of time taking care of our bodies and outward appearance with proper nutrition, grooming, and what we wear, but God is more concerned with the condition of the inner man, and that’s the one we’re taking to eternity with us. If you believe the Bible is the Word of God, like I do, then we need to make it a part of our daily diet and commit as much of it as possible to memory. “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4) This is food for the soul!

If you want to be good at anything, it takes:

desire, determination, and discipline.

How desperate are you for God? How badly do you want to know him, to please him? How passionate is your worship for him? Our walk with Christ is just that-a walk. We reap what we sow. I’m not talking about legalism here. I think those of us in the “grace” camp are so afraid of “earning our salvation” that we’ve become lazy and not willing to give up much of our time, talent, or treasure. I don’t work so God will love me, I work because he loves me. I know I can’t live the Christian life on my own without his help, but that doesn’t mean I should do just enough or give just enough to get by. When I work with my heavenly Father I grow closer to him, which returns more joy and satisfaction, even while immersed in difficulties and sadness. In fact, its more often in the hard times that I see him work most for me and for others. As the hymn says,

“The things of earth grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”(Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Helen H. Lemmel, 1922)

https://robsreflections.wordpress.com/2012/01/29/are-we-feeding-our-faith-or-starving-it/feed/0Robkaren & Dad CanoeingDSC01055Deb in middle of canoeDusthttps://robsreflections.wordpress.com/2012/01/07/dust/
https://robsreflections.wordpress.com/2012/01/07/dust/#respondSat, 07 Jan 2012 23:07:33 +0000http://robsreflections.wordpress.com/?p=8005]]>
Children’s stories tell of wonderful and magical things that can happen when someone or something is sprinkled with fairy dust. What child is not intrigued by the thought of dust bunnies under their bed? My cousin tells me that a covering of dust can hold furniture together. But the dictionary definition of dust is anything but magical and intriguing.

Dust can be defined as a fine, dry powder consisting of tiny particles of earth or waste matter lying on the ground or on surfaces or carried by the air. Nothing intriguing about that until we read in Genesis 2:7, “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” I am dust! You are dust! We are dust that lives! Dust that was given life by the breath of the Lord God Himself! The breath of life which allows us to love, to be loved, to laugh, to cry, to dance, to be still, to forgive and to be forgiven.

Just as we wipe the dust off the furniture in our homes with a rag, the shroud of death will brush across the shelf of our lives, and the bones and flesh of our bodies (dust) will return to the earth, but our spirit will return to God (Ecclesiastes 12:7). But, it does not end there for at an appointed time, we dust dwellers will wake up. Daniel 12:2 tells us that some will awake to “shame and everlasting contempt” and “some to everlasting life”. As ransomed dust, we will awaken to everlasting life. We will “Awake and sing” (Isaiah 26:19), and we will “obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (Isaiah 35:10)

]]>https://robsreflections.wordpress.com/2012/01/07/dust/feed/0Robcandle_lights_heading212011 in Pictureshttps://robsreflections.wordpress.com/2012/01/01/2011-in-pictures/
https://robsreflections.wordpress.com/2012/01/01/2011-in-pictures/#respondSun, 01 Jan 2012 01:07:08 +0000http://robsreflections.wordpress.com/?p=7998]]>2011 was a pretty cool and busy year for us so I thought I would make a 2 minute slide show of the highlights…

]]>https://robsreflections.wordpress.com/2012/01/01/2011-in-pictures/feed/0RobFear and worship cannot coexisthttps://robsreflections.wordpress.com/2011/12/22/fear-and-worship-cannot-coexist/
https://robsreflections.wordpress.com/2011/12/22/fear-and-worship-cannot-coexist/#commentsThu, 22 Dec 2011 21:16:39 +0000http://robsreflections.wordpress.com/?p=7983]]>Too many loose ends were left undone just before my vacation started last weekend and a difficult and unfinished phone system installation did not leave my customer or myself in good spirits, much less the Christmas spirit. Even though I knew the Lord would make everything turn out OK eventually, the past week’s frustrations and confrontations still hovered over me like a thick fog. Even though our God is with us as we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we still have to walk through it, right?

On Sunday night during the final song at the Andrew Peterson Christmas concert I finally let myself go and participated in the worship instead of just enjoying good music. Then it happened. My worries took a back seat.

Trusting God helps, but I have found that giving him praise and honor and glory seals the deal. While I am doing it, nothing else matters; anxiety cannot touch me.

Praising God dissolves my fears. This is because fear and worship cannot coexist.

More good news-you don’t have to be at a worship service for it to work. Just breaking out in a song of praise or simply saying “Praise God, Hallelujah, thank you, Jesus!” throughout the day infuses his peace and joy into your soul.

Well, here it is Thursday and I had to work some on my vacation but I was able to remotely work out the kinks in the phone system (praise God!) so the customer is happy and when the customer is happy you know who else is happy.

MerryChristmas to all of you. May you find joy as you celebrate the birthday of the PRINCE of PEACE!

Rob

]]>https://robsreflections.wordpress.com/2011/12/22/fear-and-worship-cannot-coexist/feed/1RobCould you not keep watch with me for one hour?https://robsreflections.wordpress.com/2011/11/26/could-you-not-keep-watch-with-me-for-one-hour/
https://robsreflections.wordpress.com/2011/11/26/could-you-not-keep-watch-with-me-for-one-hour/#respondSat, 26 Nov 2011 20:48:00 +0000http://robsreflections.wordpress.com/?p=7897]]>Thirty-seventh in the series Get close to God

We have something at our disposal that can help people more than money or even all the wisdom or power in the world. All it takes is a little compassion for others and a little of our time. We don’t even have to leave our homes to give it to them. In fact, it doesn’t even come from us. But we hold the key to unleash a force that can meet all their needs along with a peace and contentment that surpasses anything this world can offer.

Before you say, “Oh, no, not another lecture on prayer!” and click off this post, let me ask you something. Have you ever wondered what a difference you could have made in someone’s life had you stopped to pray for them? I’m not going to add to what hundreds of authors have already covered concerning communication with our Creator. I’ve just been pondering lately what could happen if I really got serious about intercession.

“Far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you.” (1 Samuel 12:23.)

The Bible is full of verses commanding us to pray for ourselves and others. This implies that if we don’t, good things that could happen, won’t, and lives that could be changed, won’t be. “You do not have because you do not ask.” (James 4:2.)

Just before his crucifixion, Jesus told his disciples, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” But instead of lifting him up in prayer, they fell asleep. I’m the same way, though. The best way I can watch your back is to cover you with prayer, but I don’t do that nearly enough.

I am guilty of the sin of prayerlessness, squandering this precious gift, resulting in blessings withheld and needs unmet. Why do I do this? We all nod our heads in unison when asked if we believe in the power of prayer. But does that apply to us personally or just to the godly saints like Samuel? I think our prayers lack fervor and passion because we tell ourselves, “I don’t know if God is really paying attention to me or will do what I ask, anyway.” So we go through life doing the best we can and only bother God as a last resort. Jeff Patton refers to this as “prayerless striving” and it causes us to miss out on the adventure of seeing the Lord do so much more through us than we could ever do by ourselves, not to mention the sweet fellowship experienced as we grow closer to him. Whatever we do for God, we need to do it with him. “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain.” (Psalm 127:1) Faith without works is dead, but works without faith is dead, also. Both are needed.

“Without faith it is impossible to please God.” (Hebrews 11:6)

I just finished reading through the book of Acts, and it really struck me how often the first Christians would get together to pray. It’s no wonder people were being filled and led by the Holy Spirit to do some pretty spectacular things. I’ll mention just two examples: the first time Peter was released from prison the believers prayed for boldness and God rocked the house-literally! When he was put back in prison, they prayed again and an angel broke him out. Paul later encouraged the Colossians to “Devote yourselves to prayer” and assured Timothy that “I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day.”

I tend to take a casual attitude toward prayer, like throwing something up at the ceiling to see if it will stick. I need to realize that God takes all of my prayers seriously, and that he answers every single one of them. It may not always be the way I would prefer them to be taken care of, but since God knows best and wants the best for me, I need to be OK with that. He sees the big picture-I don’t. I thought Monty Waldron gave us some good advice when he challenged us to ask ourselves, “Am I more focused on what I want or what God wants for me?”

I have been blessed many times from being on the receiving side of my prayer warriors’ faithful petitions. I’ve been rescued time and time again from so many things, it could fill a book; including a tornado, being run over by a van, and often at work as a network engineer when I have been able to “somehow” find solutions to things that were way over my head, like recovering files that should have been lost forever. Perhaps the biggest miracle of all has been the return of one of my family members to Christ and the restoration of that marriage. This is the result of having family and friends who constantly remember me in their prayers night and day.

My sister, Karen, arranges roses in the basement of a flower shop, which most people would consider a lonely job. But she gets in a lot of uninterrupted conversations with her Heavenly Father and prays over each bouquet as it goes out, for the recipients to receive a touch from him in some way.

Frank Peretti brought to life the war of spiritual forces in his book, This Present Darkness, when the angels were able to overcome the demons in that town only when the peoplein that little church got down on their knees. I need to dust off my spiritual weapons and join the battle! We have been given a second chance to keep watch for Jesus, because when we do it for others, he says it’s as if we’re doing it for him.

There is a benefit that is often overlooked when interceding for a friend. Sarah Young in Jesus Calling says that God not only comforts us but also enables us to be a channel through whom he can comfort others. “Thus you are doubly blessed, because a living channel absorbs some of whatever flows through it.”

A final thought: you may be the only one praying for someone today. Let’s keep watch for our friends. If we don’t, who will?

]]>https://robsreflections.wordpress.com/2011/11/26/could-you-not-keep-watch-with-me-for-one-hour/feed/0RobEngines, Guns, and a Babyhttps://robsreflections.wordpress.com/2011/11/11/engines-guns-and-a-baby/
https://robsreflections.wordpress.com/2011/11/11/engines-guns-and-a-baby/#commentsFri, 11 Nov 2011 03:27:50 +0000http://robsreflections.wordpress.com/?p=7885]]>Great fun, delicious food, and wonderful fellowship. It doesn’t get much better than that. Check out our return to the Peterson farm as we try out an ATV, rifles, and pistols for the first time.

O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, hear me.
Deliver me, Jesus,
from the desire of being loved,
from the desire of being extolled,
from the desire of being honored,
from the desire of being praised,
from the desire of being preferred to others,
from the desire of being consulted,
from the desire of being approved,
from the fear of being humiliated,
from the fear of being despised,
from the fear of suffering rebuke,
from the fear of being forgotten,
from the fear of being wronged,
from the fear of being suspected.

And, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire
that others might be loved more than I,
that others may be esteemed more than I,
that in the opinion of the world others may
increase and I may decrease,
that others may be chosen, and I set aside,
that others may be praised and I unnoticed,
that others may be preferred to me in everything,
that others may become holier than I,
provided that I become as holy as I should.

(Roman Catholic litany by an unknown author
shared by George Verwer in his book, Hunger for Reality)

]]>https://robsreflections.wordpress.com/2011/10/18/quotes-for-a-closer-walk-20/feed/0RobA Wonderful Story of Redemption, Reconciliation, and Restorationhttps://robsreflections.wordpress.com/2011/09/21/a-wonderful-story-of-redemption-reconciliation-and-restoration/
https://robsreflections.wordpress.com/2011/09/21/a-wonderful-story-of-redemption-reconciliation-and-restoration/#commentsWed, 21 Sep 2011 07:00:26 +0000http://robsreflections.wordpress.com/?p=7865]]>Click this link to watch a video our worship pastor, Kevin Perry, produced of our daughter, Stephanie, and her husband, Chris, telling their story of heartache, pain and God’s love, grace and hope.

]]>https://robsreflections.wordpress.com/2011/09/21/a-wonderful-story-of-redemption-reconciliation-and-restoration/feed/1RobREALLY, Jesus?https://robsreflections.wordpress.com/2011/08/23/really-jesus/
https://robsreflections.wordpress.com/2011/08/23/really-jesus/#commentsTue, 23 Aug 2011 21:04:45 +0000http://robsreflections.wordpress.com/?p=7832]]>Thirty-sixth in the series Get close to God

What if you were one of Jesus’ disciples who were with him in Judea when he almost got stoned and now he tells you this, “Let’s go back to Judea.” I’d probably say what they did, “But Rabbi, a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?” The next thing their leader said only confused them further, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.” OK, that makes perfect sense, Jesus, let’s risk our lives so we can wake up someone who will wake up anyway!

Jesus tried to explain, “Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there (to heal him,) so that you may believe.”

What would you think? Really, Jesus? This is getting more bizarre by the minute! You want us to risk our lives to pay respects to someone you could have healed, but didn’t, so that we may believe?! Mary and Martha were even more perplexed with Jesus. They had sent word to him two days before: “Lord,” the messengers relayed, “the one you love is sick.” Jesus told them, “This sickness will not end in death.” They probably thought, “Hey, that’s cool. I guess he’s going to cure him remotely, like he did the royal official’s son and the Centurion’s servant.” I appreciate this method myself, since I do a lot of my work remotely as well! But what happened? Lazarus died. Mary and Martha were crushed and felt let down, even betrayed. “Lord,” Martha and Mary said to Jesus when he finally showed up four days later, “If you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

Of course, we now know what Jesus had in mind all along, which resulted in one of the most dramatic miracles of all time; Lazarus coming out alive, still wrapped up and looking like a mummy!

So, what does this scripture teach us? We’ve already heard the lesson of God’s timing, as portrayed in the song, “When he’s four days late, He’s still on time.” But there’s more here to learn. I can relate to how confused the disciples and Mary and Martha were with Jesus. Some times he doesn’t make sense to me, either. Some things just don’t change, no matter how hard I pray. I need to realize that God always answers my prayers. It may not be when or how I want them answered, but it always eventually turns out for the best, and usually for my best. But if not for me, then for someone else, or maybe just for the glory of God, and I need to be OK with that, because the world doesn’t revolve around me. I wasn’t put here so everyone could make sure I was happy.

But don’t be too hard on yourself if you feel abandoned by God. You’re actually in good company. King David and even Jesus cried out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” They didn’t understand it then, but they didn’t give up on their heavenly Father and he didn’t give up on them and he won’t give up on you. Life can be hard, cruel, painful, sad, and lonely. Sometimes it’s our fault, sometimes it’s not. We can let it push us away from God or cling to him tighter. It’s our choice. God doesn’t enjoy seeing us suffer. Jesus wept at Lazarus’ funeral and I can’t imagine how his Father felt when his Son underwent that horrendous execution. But he allowed it because he knew there was no other way to save his other children that he loves so much.

Even if I am interceding for someone else, I need to put them and leave them in God’s capable and willing hands. He’s trying to tell me, “Relax, I got this!”

The disciples went with Jesus that day, but not until after Thomas said to them, “Let us also go, so that we may die with him.” How about that, in the midst of everyone thinking Jesus was losing his mind, it was good ol’ Doubting Thomas who came through!

So, instead of saying, “Woe is me!,” I should be saying, “As you wish, Lord. Your will, not mine, be done. I will trust in you, in spite of what I see, or can’t see… Really, Jesus.”

We often refer to gifted children as child prodigies. They are endowed with great abilities, natural talents, or exceptional intelligence and they fascinate us. Whether you enjoy opera or not, one cannot help but enjoy listening to eleven year old Jackie Evanko sing. Even if you have no appreciation for art, when you look at the paintings of Akiane Kramarek, born 1996, you instinctively know that you are looking at something special. Mozart, Jackie Cooper, and Bobby Fischer were all considered to be child prodigies.

As children of the living God (Romans 9:26), we are “the gifted”. When we are born again we receive “the gift of God [eternal life] through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23). Ephesians 2:8&9 tells us that there is nothing we can do to earn our salvation. It is a “gift of God.” In Romans 12, I Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4 we can read about the different gifts that God’s children are given.

The whole world is gifted, but not everyone will accept the Gift. Just as some child prodigies squander their gifts, many folks turn their backs on the greatest gift. “For God so loved…he gave….” (John 3:16) Salvation through Jesus Christ is the greatest gift of all.

We have a beautiful home on the farm where I grew up. Actually we have the last remaining two acres. The rest of the farm has been sold off to developers and we are now surrounded by a very nice subdivision. We have a neighbor on each side who also have approximately two acres each.

Ms Bradford to the north of us, was a sweet old lady who was always pleasant and cheerful. Mr. McConkey to the south of us, was completely the opposite. He was a frustrated old man. He never smiled and was always looking for some way to find fault with what went on in our home.

We would see him in the yard and Jim would wave and try to speak, only to be met with ill remarks and a disgusted look. Mr. McConkey would take pictures of us as we worked close to the road, I guess to use them as evidence against us for trying to improve the roadside. We never quite new what he was up to or his motives associated with his actions.

There was no fence separating our two yards and if a ball or the children crossed the imaginary line, Mr. McConkey was quick to register his complaint. We lived daily wondering what his next move would be to make our lives miserable.

It was the spring of the year, and as we always did, we worked feverishly to get our yard in shape. Both Jim and I enjoy digging in the dirt, planting flowers, and creating a beautiful landscape. Located in our front yard, just inside this imaginary property line that separated our front yard from Mr. McConkey’s was a large water oak tree. This tree was so large the canopy from the tree crossed “the line” into Mr. McConkey’s yard.. It was hard to tell who really owned the tree because we shared so much of the canopy.

One Friday afternoon when I arrived home from work, I turned into the driveway, and there it was, a huge pile of limbs from the water oak on my side of “the line.” Immediately my blood began to boil. I was convinced, that old man had trimmed the tree limbs that had crossed “the line” and thrown them over in my yard to be picked up. It was the final straw. I was fed up with his attempts to annoy me and I was going to teach him a lesson that would put to rest his meanness toward us forever.

Still in my work suit, I got out of the car, and threw every limb on the pile back into his yard. I thought, “that will do it, when he sees this we probably will have it out once and for all, and I would be rid of this old man forever. He truly had become a thorn in my side and I was ready for a fight.

I headed to the house once the deed was done, and noticed Jim had returned from his weekly travels. As I stormed into the house I found Jim and told him what that old man had done and what I had done to correct it. I noticed Jim was not in a very supportive mood. The expression on his face was a strange combination of humor and fear at what I had done. He very quietly said to me, “I came home early and trimmed the limbs and was going to get you to help me clean them up when you got home.”

It was one of those moments for me when my brain processed the consequences of my past, present and future actions, and I began to panic. I realized Mr. McConkey was not home and I scramble to correct my selfish mistake before he returned. I called to Jim, “quick come help me get the limbs and put them back into our yard.” By this time, Jim was laughing so hard, he could barely walk.

We managed to return all the limbs to their rightful owner, and to this day Mr. McConkey never knew of the event. Mr. McConkey has returned to Texas to be with his children, but the water oak is still there sharing its canopy with our new neighbor. It is a daily reminder to me as I return home of how quickly we can misjudge a situation, and how quickly our selfish motives can take over.

Ephesians 4:31-32 says, “Let all bitterness, and wrath and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice; And be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God, for Christ’s sake, hath forgiven you.” I am grateful Mr. McConkey was not the recipient of my anger, and I am grateful my husband is a patient man.

Dear Father, please help us to remember things are not always as they appear. Help us to see things through the eyes of the Holy Spirit, to be slow to anger, quick to forgive, and always ready to share a kind word, especially to the Mr. McConkey’s of the world.

“My heart trusts in Him and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy.” (Psalm 28:7)

and His Peace overwhelms:

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7)

]]>https://robsreflections.wordpress.com/2011/07/13/the-road-to-peace-and-joy/feed/0RobOur Vacation to Big South Fork!https://robsreflections.wordpress.com/2011/07/06/our-vacation-to-big-south-fork/
https://robsreflections.wordpress.com/2011/07/06/our-vacation-to-big-south-fork/#respondWed, 06 Jul 2011 01:35:46 +0000http://robsreflections.wordpress.com/?p=7798]]>We had a great time discovering parts of Tennessee and Kentucky we hadn’t been to before. Perfect weather for hiking-cloudy, in the mid 70’s. The train ride through the mountains was nice, but we got more excitement than we were expecting on the canoe trip! What started out as a lazy river turned into raging rapids about a mile down. We tipped over, not once, but twice! The pictures in this video are the last ones taken by our camera, since only the memory card survived, along with me and Sharon, thank the Lord!

]]>https://robsreflections.wordpress.com/2011/07/06/our-vacation-to-big-south-fork/feed/0Robview from train clickStorm Prephttps://robsreflections.wordpress.com/2011/07/03/storm-prep/
https://robsreflections.wordpress.com/2011/07/03/storm-prep/#respondSun, 03 Jul 2011 17:22:51 +0000http://robsreflections.wordpress.com/?p=7787]]>It is that time once again. Time to stock up on batteries, get the important papers organized in the grab-n-go box, to obtain a “Hurricane Survival” pamphlet from Channel 3, and to be sure the generator works. The hurricane season of 2011 is here, and the fear-mongering has begun. Just yesterday, the official start of the hurricane season, a low-pressure system passed the need to remind us that hurricane season was here, and that this system had a 20 percent chance of developing into a “tropical cyclone”.

As I get older, living in the Sunshine State has brought a certain amount of weariness during the months from June 1 through November 30 each year. On June 1, I start trying to kick in doors that are not shut by fretting about the possibility of evacuating. We are not even on the road, and I already do not want to go.

How foolish of me! I have an anchor (Isaiah 26:3&4) and a refuge (Psalm 57:1) that are available twelve months a year, not just December through May. Psalm 37 tells us to fret not, to trust in the Lord, to delight ourselves in Him, to commit our way unto Him, and to “rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him”.

Therefore, I will take refuge in “the shadow” of His wings until “these calamities” pass over (Psalm 57:1).

I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)

Trying to live apart from God is like a branch trying to survive apart from the vine. The branch was not created to exist from for itself, but to bear fruit for us to enjoy. And this can only happen if the branch stays connected to the vine for constant nourishment. Likewise, we were not created to follow our own desires, but to serve and enjoy Christ. And we can only do that if we stay connected moment by moment to him, who then empowers us for his service.

Pride and self-reliance is prized in this culture but it’s a stumbling block to a successful Christian life. We are told in our movies and songs to find the power within ourselves and to do it our way. But when I think I’m accomplishing something without God, I need to remind myself that I am doing it with a body he built for me, which is nourished by food he supplies. I wouldn’t even last more than a few minutes without the air from the atmosphere he created.

Living for God may sound like slavery, but it’s actually joining a cause that enables you to excel at what you were made to do. Watching God do supernatural things through you is exciting, and living out your purpose results in fulfillment and contentment.

Abiding in Christ should come natural to us; that’s how it started out in the Garden of Eden. But we all know what happened there. Ever since then the evil one has deceived and distracted us from our true purpose. The good news is that we can reconnect with our Creator. There are over 80 references in the Bible encouraging us to seek after God and stay close to him. But this is not easy and requires intentional devotion over self indulgence. Is it worth it? The apostle Paul thought so:

I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ…that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings. (Philippians 3: 8,10)

When we cling to the heavenly vine we have all that we need to weather the storms of life, enjoy the fruits of walking with Christ, and experience the privilege of sharing it with others.

Vacations never seem long enough. Times of fellowship with our loved ones appear to end quickly. Our babies become adults overnight. We often make the statement “Time flies when you are having fun.” Happy times do go by quickly, but not so with the hard times. The hard times often seem to move at a snail’s pace.

Recently Phobe Snow, a bluesy singer, guitarist, and songwriter died. When reading about her life, I was particularly impressed, not by her accomplishments in the world of music, but by the fact that for thirty-one years she took care of her daughter, Valerie, who was brain damaged. Day by day, year by year, Ms. Snow poured her life into the life of her daughter.

Often in life we are called to take long-term care of someone, and it can fatigue us physically and exhaust us mentally. Long-term care of someone is not only taking care of one’s physical needs, but sometimes long-term care is being kind to someone in our lives who has an ungrateful spirit. Long-term care can be years of praying for a loved one to be saved. Many times, long-term care involves caring and loving someone who is incapable of returning that care and love.

Doing what is right does not necessarily mean that it will be easy, fun, or short-lived. We are not to get “weary in well doing” (II Thess. 3:13), but with “patient continuance” (Romans 2:7) we are to continue taking care of, praying for, and loving each other. No one else may see what we do, care that we do it or remember what we have done, but our Father sees, cares, and will remember.

Galatians 6:9 “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”